NRFI Today: 4 NRFI Picks, Predictions, Best Bets for Monday, August 24, 2026

Today's Top NRFI Picks at a Glance

• Boston Red Sox at Miami Marlins NRFI
• Pittsburgh Pirates at San Diego Padres NRFI
• Cleveland Guardians at Los Angeles Angels NRFI
• Philadelphia Phillies at Seattle Mariners NRFI

The MLB season is an annual marathon that gives us months of daily betting markets to consider.

While traditional player props like home runs and strikeouts remain popular options, one market that's gained steam is betting whether or not no runs will be scored in the first inning -- aka a No Run First Inning (NRFI) bet.

On FanDuel Sportsbook's MLB odds, we can find NRFI odds listed as 1st Inning 0.5 Runs under the Innings tab for each MLB game.

Please note: lines are subject to change throughout the day after this article is published. You can also check out our MLB player news page to stay up to date with lineup news and injuries.

Check out the top home run picks and MLB props for today.

NRFI Bets Today: No Run First Inning Picks

Boston Red Sox at Miami Marlins NRFI (-156)

Starting Pitchers: Ranger Suárez vs. Sandy Alcantara

This matchup features two quality starters in one of the better environments for suppressing offense.

Ranger Suárez enters Monday with a 3.41 ERA over 113.1 innings, and his underlying numbers are arguably even more impressive, including a 2.87 FIP and 24.2% strikeout rate. The left-hander has also surrendered only seven home runs across his 22 starts.

The Miami Marlins counter with Sandy Alcantara, who has rebounded nicely this season. Alcantara owns a 3.46 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 176.2 innings while walking only 6.5% of the batters he's faced. He doesn't generate strikeouts at an especially high rate, but his ability to pound the strike zone and limit walks makes him a strong candidate to navigate Boston's opening three hitters.

LoanDepot park — which is 23rd in park factor this year — adds another appealing element to the wager.

With Suárez and Alcantara both capable of limiting walks and keeping the ball in the park, this is my favorite NRFI matchup on Monday's slate.

Pittsburgh Pirates at San Diego Padres NRFI (-160)

Starting Pitchers: Braxton Ashcraft vs. Robbie Ray

Braxton Ashcraft's breakout season gives us a strong starting point for this wager. The Pittsburgh Pirates‘ right-hander has posted a 3.68 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 159 strikeouts over 149.1 innings. His 26.4% strikeout rate is paired with an excellent 5.5% walk rate, giving him the kind of strikeout-to-walk profile we want when betting an NRFI.

Ashcraft has been particularly sharp lately. He has allowed only two earned runs across 17.0 innings over his past two starts, including eight innings of one-run ball in his most recent outing.

The San Diego Padres will turn to Robbie Ray, who carries an 11-7 record and 3.20 ERA into Monday. There are some reasons for caution with Ray -- most notably his 11.8% walk rate -- but he has generally prevented those walks from turning into major damage.

Add in the pitcher-friendly dimensions of Petco Park, and the overall setup is favorable enough for me to back the NRFI.

Cleveland Guardians at Los Angeles Angels NRFI (-128)

Starting Pitchers: Parker Messick vs. George Klassen

Parker Messick has quietly been one of the most effective starters in baseball this season. The Cleveland Guardians‘ left-hander owns a 2.54 ERA and 1.03 WHIP through 149.0 innings, striking out 152 hitters along the way. His 25.7% strikeout rate is backed by a 6.8% walk rate and 3.10 FIP, so there isn't much evidence that his success has been a fluke.

George Klassen makes this play a little more volatile, but the Los Angeles Angels‘ rookie is coming off his best stretch of the season. Klassen limited the Texas Rangers to two earned runs across six innings on August 12 before completely shutting down the Houston Astros in his next outing, allowing only one hit over seven scoreless innings while striking out seven.

Those two starts amount to two earned runs over 13.0 innings. Klassen now sports a 3.74 ERA with 21 strikeouts across his first 21.2 major-league innings.

Messick is the primary reason I'm interested in this NRFI, but Klassen's recent performance makes the other half of the wager much easier to trust.

Philadelphia Phillies at Seattle Mariners NRFI (-162)

Starting Pitchers: Zack Wheeler vs. Logan Gilbert

There may not be a better combination of starting pitchers on Monday than Zack Wheeler and Logan Gilbert. Wheeler has produced a 2.92 ERA and 1.01 WHIP across 120.1 innings this season while recording 144 strikeouts. Even after a couple of less dominant outings recently, his overall body of work remains excellent.

Gilbert has been similarly impressive for the Seattle Mariners. He owns a 3.35 ERA and 1.01 WHIP through 150.1 innings, and his 157 strikeouts translate to a 26.4% strikeout rate. He has also issued just 37 walks to 594 batters faced, giving him an excellent 6.2% walk rate.

The venue doesn't hurt, either. T-Mobile Park is generally one of the more favorable places for pitchers, and neither Wheeler nor Gilbert is particularly prone to giving away free baserunners.

With two high-end right-handers on the mound, I like the chances of this game remaining scoreless through one.

NRFI Betting — Frequently Asked Questions

What does NRFI mean in baseball betting? NRFI stands for No Run First Inning. It's a baseball bet where you wager that neither team will score in the first inning. The opposite bet — at least one run scored in the first inning — is called YRFI (Yes Run First Inning).

How does a NRFI bet work? A NRFI bet is settled when the first inning is completed. If both teams fail to score, your bet wins. If either team scores one or more runs, the bet loses. The final game score has no bearing on the outcome.

What is the difference between NRFI and YRFI? NRFI bets that no runs will score in the first inning, while YRFI bets that at least one run will.

What stats should I look at for NRFI bets? The most important factors are usually each starting pitcher's first-inning ERA, WHIP, and strikeout rate (K%). You should also look at each team's first-inning batting average and on-base percentage as well as individual player stats for the first few batters in the lineup for each team.

Can I parlay NRFI bets? Yes, FanDuel lets you parlay NRFIs across multiple games on the same slate.

Where can you find NRFI betting lines on FanDuel? You can find NRFI odds listed as 1st Inning 0.5 Runs under the Innings tab for each MLB game.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.